Closed Practice "Special Invite" Meeting Notes

<img src="http://www.bolttalk.com/images/newstadium03.jpg" align="left" height="184" width="300" />Members of the Chargers.com and SDUT forums were invited to attend a meeting with Mark Fabiani and Jim Steeg to discuss the new stadium proposal. One of our forum members "San Diego Ron" was there and shares his notes below.

First, I want to thank JoelBolt at Chargers for having me participate - I was very surprised to be selected.... and of course, thanks to Mr Fabiani for staying after the session to answer my questions and to Mr Steeg for taking his valuable time to meet with us...

On a positive note - It was GREAT to meet many of the other forum posters - that was fun...

but the theme of the day for me was: Disappointment

. On the football note - I didn't get to watch much practice, as it was on the other side of the field... I wasn't there for that anyway, but they could've done a better job at getting us closer to the action...

. very little of consequence or action items came out of the meeting - I believe meetings should produce tangible results, this wasn't one of them...

. the bolts brass did an admirable job of telling their story... but being the cynic that I am, it smacked of towing the company line... and at times, the rhetoric was very redundant (same examples, same "bad guy", same responses)... it felt scripted...

. most of the questions were not answered directly and it left me wondering if I had asked them well enough... in fact, I felt embarrassed that I had to raise my voice on the question of whether or not the Bolts had offered to BUY the land at The Murph... bottom line, they did not and are not likely to purchase any land, becuase it doesn't "pencil"... (return on investment)

. clearly, there is a grand canyon dividing the city and the organization... IMO, ALL parties to any negotiation should check their egos at the door if anythings ever going to be accomplished... just way too much negative "vibe" exists at this time...

But for me, it hit "home" when Mr. Fabiani confirmed that the Bolts have ZERO interest in the Qualcomm site... now, I am sensitive to all the antagonism that has transpired between the parties regarding The Murph, but to me, a loooooong time SAN DIEGO Charger fan - I felt "discarded".... it won't be the same when they move, and they will be moving... damn that SUXX.......

... just one guys take... ...anyway, here's some questions I was asked to pose to the brass...

<font color="Navy">for Fabiani/Steeg (OCLightningBolt) - Have the Chargers conducted an "Economic &amp; Fiscal Impact Study" to quantify initial and long term benefits to the host city?</font>

I asked this question and didn't get a direct - Fabiani said "studies" are in the works and will be completed soon - whether they directly address your point is a TBD... personally, I do not believe the Chargers have sold the benefits of their organization very well to the general public - publishing the results may contribute to a better understanding or perhaps not....

<font color="Navy">What steps have the Chargers taken (or will they take) to (1) quantify the value/benefit of an NFL franchise in the community and (2) the value/benefit of a new stadium in the community? We hear a lot about the costs, but what about the value/benefits? Can they be quantified?</font>

see above... the land proposals include development properties for office space, etc...(including the "second site" feature)... which implies jobs, but realistically it's income property to pay for the construction and provide weekend parking... you can take that either way...

<font color="Navy">Have the Chargers evaluated any stadium deals that were successfully negotiated by other NFL cities in the last 3-5 years to determine if financing or funding strategies used elsewhere could work in San Diego? If yes, what did they find?</font>

Fabiani implied that they have, and I believe him - he just didn't elaborate...

<font color="DarkSlateBlue">Does the NFL provide any kind of economic assistance for financing/building a new stadium? If yes, have the Chargers discussed with the NFL?</font>

now, I can be mis-stating here but if I took notes correctly:
. the NFL has a program but it's essentially tapped out, and per Fabiani, was really intended for the big market cities... he guess-tamated 6-700k would be available to the Bolts but ONLY if there is matching funds from the city... (and we know what that means)...

<font color="Navy">for Fabiani/Steeg (EmmaPadreFan) - How much of the construction cost of the new stadium can be recouped from revenues generated by the stadium?
(The other way of asking that question is to simply ask how much of the stadium construction cost is the income property expected to cover. )</font>

per Fabiani: most if not all Clubs expect heavy participation from the associated municipality... which is why the LAND component is a key contributing anty from the public cofers... I believe Fabiani mentioned only 20% of construction cost is covered by <u>stadium</u> revenue, but clearly the "other" properties (office space etc) are a function of "penciling" that cost...

<font color="Navy">for Fabiani/Steeg (Harryo the K) - Does Fabini and the Chargers realize if they move they will be tearing the hearts out thousands--nay, I say millions?-- of Charger fans. What can the common fan do keep --really keep--the Chargers here? </font>

You know Harry, this is my favorite question and I asked it directly... and I got a direct answer, kinda... short answer: Yes, they know if they move out of county there will be "tears", and to the credit of the Spanos, they have made a very strong commitment to stay in San Diego - I VERY MUCH appreciate that... but like shades of grey, it's how far out before we start weeping... for me, Oceanside is not home... many will be satisfied...

as to what us fans can do - VOTE for "progressive" and "competent" leadership in 08... in the meantime, make your voices heard to our representatives, by contributing your takes on sites like Voice of San Diego... obviously, the Bolts would like you to contribute to the North Country Times, as well...

*** I hope I have accurately represented the reponses to the questions - I would have preferred direct answers...

<a href="http://forums.bolttalk.net/showthread.php?t=8450" target="_blank"><strong><em>Discuss this in the forums. </em></strong></a>